Tree Protection Ordinance
In 2021, Orange County initiated the revision of its 23-year-old tree preservation and removal ordinance, engaging stakeholders such as developers, landscape architects, and environmental advocates to provide comprehensive input. I emerged as a key advocate for updating the tree preservation ordinance, driven by a deep concern for the loss of valuable trees and ecosystems.
The updated ordinance offers enhanced regulatory safeguards during development, particularly for Specimen trees like Winged Elm, Turkey Oak, Longleaf Pine, Sweetgum, and Bald Cypress, as well as for Heritage trees such as Live Oak and Southern Magnolia. The ordinance ensures a more diverse tree species and imposes updated mitigation requirements.
Developers face stricter guidelines for tree preservation, including limited removal of Heritage and Specimen trees in designated areas like parking lots, open spaces, residential subdivisions, and near stormwater ponds. Moreover, the ordinance underscores the importance of tree mitigation by mandating developers to replace tree canopy at a ratio of 3:1 for every inch of Specimen tree removed and 5:1 for every inch of Heritage tree removed.
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